2 Pedestrians Struck and Killed in Separate Crashes

Two pedestrians were struck and killed in separate traffic accidents Friday, and police said they are investigating one of the incidents as a possible homicide.

In Stanton, a man in his mid-40s was killed when he was run over about 8 a.m. at Wasco and Chanticleer roads by what witnesses described as a white Chevrolet truck or van, Sheriff’s Lt. Ron White said.

The man was apparently walking to work.

Traffic investigators surveying the scene as that of a hit-and-run said that “there was maybe something not right” about the situation, White said, and homicide investigators were scheduled to examine the area late Friday and today.

Officers are continuing to interview witnesses, White said.

Authorities were withholding the name of the victim until his relatives could be notified.

The other death was that of Mathew Benjamin Ehrlich, 25, of Huntington Beach, who was struck by a pickup truck as he tried to run across Newland Street at Hillhead Drive about 7:40 a.m. in heavy traffic, officials said.

Ehrlich, who lived in the neighborhood, was pronounced dead at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach Police Lt. Luis Ochoa said.

The 26-year-old driver of the truck was not cited, Ochoa said. Authorities are seeking the reason why Ehrlich was running across the street.